Things to Do in Austin, Texas

• What is the Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake?
  • Boardwalk Trail, Lady Bird Lake creates a complete circuit around the lake and is one of the oldest urban hike-and-bike trails in Texas.
• Where is Lady Bird Lake located?
  • Circling the lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River that lies in the heart of the city, the 10.1-mile (16.3 km) trail was designed for the people of Austin to enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful lakeside setting.
• What activities can visitors do on the trail?
  • Visitors can enjoy walking, jogging, running, or cycling along the trail while taking in the scenic views of the lake.

• What is Zilker Botanical Garden?
  • Located within Zilker Park near downtown Austin on the south bank of the Colorado River, Zilker Botanical Garden stretches across 26 acres of mixed topography, offering suitable homes and diverse habitats for both native and exotic plants.
• What types of gardens are featured at Zilker Botanical Garden?
  • This beautiful green oasis in the heart of the city combines theme gardens of roses, herbs, lilies, and succulents, and there is also a Japanese garden connected with waterfalls, streams, and ponds filled with fish.
• How are the gardens arranged?
  • Each individual garden feels like a separate world, and they flow from one to the other.
• What is the Hartman Prehistoric Garden?
  • The Hartman Prehistoric Garden, a favorite among visitors, recreates the world in which the dinosaurs lived.
• Who manages Zilker Botanical Garden?
  • The Austin Area Garden Center manages the garden and organizes a range of activities, programs, and events such as an annual spring garden festival.
• Where is Zilker Botanical Garden located and how can I contact them?

  • 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746, Phone: 512-477-8672

• What is The Bullock Texas State History Museum?
  • Named after its founder, Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, The Bullock Texas State History Museum is located just a few blocks from the Texas State Capitol.
• What are the main themes of the museum?
  • The museum consists of three main themes with interactive exhibits:
    • The first floor tells the story of how Texas was founded.
    • The second floor explains how the state came about and the history behind its name.
    • The top floor deals with the subject of opportunity.
• What theaters are available at the museum?
  • The museum features the modern, 200-seat Texas Spirit Theater, which offers special effects presentations and shows that take audiences on an unforgettable journey through the history of Texas.
  • A state-of-the-art IMAX theater with 2-D and 3-D capabilities is also available.
• Where is The Bullock Texas State History Museum located and how can I contact them?

  • 1800 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701, Phone: 512-936-4629

• What is The Blanton Museum of Art?
  • The Blanton Museum of Art is the official art museum and research center of the University of Texas and one of the largest university art museums in the United States.
• What kind of artwork is featured at The Blanton Museum of Art?
  • Home to over 17,000 works from all over the globe, the Blanton Museum of Art features European masters, American and Contemporary art, and Latin American art.
• What is the mission of The Blanton Museum of Art?
  • The museum aims to serve as a “cultural gateway” between the university and the community through versatile and innovative exhibitions, displays, and galleries.
• What programs and events are offered at the museum?
  • The museum hosts educational workshops, multimedia programs, lectures, and discussions.
• Where is The Blanton Museum of Art located and how can I contact them?

  • 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78712, Phone: 512-471-5482

• What is the Texas Farmers' Market?
  • Located at the historic Browning Hangar on Airport Boulevard in picturesque Mueller Park, Texas Farmers' Market is one of the most popular Austin farmers markets.
• What can visitors do at the market?
  • It is the favorite place of many for hanging out on Sunday, meeting friends and neighbors, shopping, stocking up on fresh veggies, trying some delicious artisan foods, and enjoying the day outdoors.
• What vendors and products are available at the market?
  • There is always live music and a range of activities, and more than 40 local vendors sell seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, homemade products, and specialty foods.
• Who manages the Texas Farmers' Market?
  • A non-profit F2M with a goal of providing residents of Austin with healthy, economical food and fostering the environmental benefits of shopping locally and eating seasonal foods manages the market.
• Where is the Texas Farmers' Market located and how can I contact them?

  • Mary Elizabeth Branch Park: 2006 Philomena St, Austin, TX 78723, Phone: 512-363-5700

Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:

• What is Zilker Metropolitan Park?
  • The 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park is a beautiful spot for walks, jogging, and sightseeing.
• What attractions are located within Zilker Metropolitan Park?
  • The park is home to Zilker Botanical Gardens, the Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Hillside Theatre, and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.
• What is Barton Springs Pool?
  • Barton Springs Pool measures three acres in size and enjoys an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, making it extremely popular for year-round swimming.
• What is the history of Barton Springs Pool?
  • Discovered by Spanish explorers in the 17th Century, the spring that feeds the pool is the fourth largest in Texas and was made into a swimming pool by the city in 1920.
• Has Barton Springs Pool had any notable visitors?
  • The swimming pool has seen its fair share of visitors, including Robert Redford, who learned to swim in it when he was five years old.
• Is Barton Springs Pool open every day?
  • Due to the high traffic volume, Barton Springs Pool is closed every Thursday for rigorous cleaning.
• What educational exhibits are available near the pool?
  • Adjacent to the pool’s bathhouse is an exciting educational exhibit called “Splash!” where visitors can learn about the history of the pool and the spring which feeds it.
• Where is Zilker Metropolitan Park located?

  • 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78704

• What is ZACH Theatre?
  • One of the ten oldest theatres in the country, ZACH Theatre was founded in 1932 and is Texas’ longest-running theatre company.
• Where is ZACH Theatre located?
  • Located on the tranquil shores of Lady Bird Lake, the historic theatre boasts three stages, several event spaces, and a range of offices, classrooms, and halls that can be used for private functions.
• How many performances does ZACH Theatre produce annually?
  • Home to more than 300 actors, musicians, and designers who produce more than 500 performances a year, the ZACH delights over 100,000 patrons annually with a variety of classic plays, musicals, and original works.
• Does ZACH Theatre offer educational and outreach programs?
  • Yes, the theatre runs educational and outreach programs for more than 50,000 children.
• Where is ZACH Theatre located and how can I contact them?

  • 202 South Lamar, Austin, Texas 78704, Phone: 512-476-0541

• What is South Congress Avenue?
  • South Congress Avenue is one of Austin's hippest neighborhoods with an eclectic range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, antique stores, music venues, galleries, and food trucks.
• Where is South Congress Avenue located?
  • The neighborhood, bordered by the historic neighborhoods of Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek, stretches between Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and the Colorado River.
• What is the history of South Congress Avenue?
  • Designed in 1830 to be one of the city's main thoroughfares, it grew in popularity between 1930 and 1960 with the addition of the iconic Austin Motel, the Hotel San José, and the hamburger stand that eventually became the famous Night Hawk.
• How did South Congress Avenue become a cultural hub?
  • Artists and musicians discovered South Congress in the 70s and made it their home. After a period of decline due to the construction of new roads into the city, South Congress experienced a revival in the 1990s, growing into one of the city's most lively and popular neighborhoods.
• Why is South Congress a great place for photography?
  • South Congress is one of the best spots to see or photograph the Texas State Capitol, as it offers a spectacular, unobstructed view.

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

• What is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center?
  • The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a 279-acre botanical garden located about 10 miles from downtown Austin on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.
• What organization operates the Wildflower Center?
  • The center serves as a research unit of the University of Texas at Austin and is entirely focused on native plants.
• How many plant species are found at the Wildflower Center?
  • The garden is home to over 700 species of plants native to central Texas.
• What types of exhibits are hosted at the center?
  • The center hosts a range of temporary exhibits of photography and visual art.
• What features can visitors explore at the Wildflower Center?
  • The garden features a number of walking trails, outdoor sculptures, formal as well as research plantings, and special educational exhibits.
• Does the center offer native plants for sale?
  • Once a year, the center offers native plants for sale.
• Where is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center located and how can I contact them?

  • 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739, Phone: 512-232-0100, website

• What is the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge?
  • The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is the bridge across Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.
• What type of bridge is the Congress Avenue Bridge?
  • This concrete arch bridge has three vehicle lanes in both directions and sidewalks on both sides.
• What is the history of the Congress Avenue Bridge?
  • When its first span was built in the 19^th century, the bridge used to cross the Colorado River and was called the Congress Avenue Bridge until the Longhorn Dam created Lady Bird Lake in 1960.
• Why is the Congress Avenue Bridge famous?
  • The bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in the world with 1.5 million bats.
• How can visitors observe the bats?
  • As they emerge every night from their nests, they attract a huge number of observers. To provide a safe and comfortable area for seeing the bats, The Austin American-Statesman created the Statesman Bat Observation Center next to the Congress Bridge.